Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-09

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Tsipras: 'Bratislava must be democratic Europe's answer to populism, xenophobia and racism'

[01] Tsipras: 'Bratislava must be democratic Europe's answer to populism, xenophobia and racism'

The leaders' will continue their discussion over lunch and the summit will conclude with joint statements to the media, after which the EU Med country leaders will visit the newly built Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre in Faliro.

Addressing the leaders of the EU Mediterranean countries gathered in Athens on Friday, Tsipras will emphasise that next week's EU summit in Bratislava must be "democratic Europe's answer to populism, xenophobia and racism," government sources said.

Tsipras will also make clear that Greece's intention is to reach a common ground about the future of Europe, not using the South as a counterweight to Europe's North or the 'Visegrad' group but as a positive initiative contributing to the EU agenda. He will also offer the interpretation that the 'Brexit' vote in Britain reveals strong eurosceptic trends and a crisis of confidence in the European political system, while Europe's inability to handle the refugee crisis has led to a rise of the far right.

On the economic front, Tsipras will argue that action against unemployment and poverty must a priority for the EU, along with equitable growth and effective solutions for the refugee crisis and security.

Tsipras will argue that the "growth or austerity" dilemma has already been resolve and that the answer is indisputably growth. He will present the Greek position calling for fiscal stability combined with fiscal flexibility as an incentive for investments.

On foreign policy and security, the Greek prime minister intends to argue against a "Fortress Europe" approach in favour of security and border protection as part of a broader comprehensive foreign policy and defence and security policy. He will repeat the need for a new vision of peace, security and stability in the Mediterranean, with respect for international law, including a fair and viable solution to the Cyprus issue based on UN resolutions, abolition of guarantees and withdrawal of occupation troops.

Among others, he will note the need to protect European borders through a new European border police and coast guard, and reinforce the EU border agency Frontex.

He will also urge a common policy to deal with the refugee crisis and migration, noting that an excessive share of the burden currently falls on Mediterranean countries and calling for a common European solution with solidarity and a sharing of responsibilities. According to Tsipras, the goal must be to replace illegal migration routes with legal avenues, noting that the EU-Turkey agreement has been effective and must be given greater weight.

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